US 12,378,712 B2
Apparatus for treating laundry
Younghun Kim, Seoul (KR); Hyunsang Cho, Seoul (KR); and Uikun Hwang, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to LG Electronics Inc., Seoul (KR)
Filed by LG Electronics Inc., Seoul (KR)
Filed on May 1, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/652,363.
Application 18/652,363 is a continuation of application No. 17/587,496, filed on Jan. 28, 2022, granted, now 12,000,075.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0013487 (KR), filed on Jan. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0271350 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. D06F 37/22 (2006.01); D06F 37/04 (2006.01); D06F 37/26 (2006.01); D06F 37/30 (2020.01)
CPC D06F 37/225 (2013.01) [D06F 37/04 (2013.01); D06F 37/265 (2013.01); D06F 37/30 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for treating laundry, comprising:
a tub that defines a space configured to receive water therein;
a drum that has a cylindrical shape and is configured to rotate within the tub, the drum defining a space configured to receive the laundry therein;
a motor configured to provide power to rotate the drum;
a rotation shaft coupled to the motor and configured to transmit the power from the motor; and
a connector configured to transmit the power of the motor to the drum,
wherein the connector comprises:
a hub having the rotation shaft fixed thereto, and
a plurality of arms projected from the hub toward an edge of the drum, and
wherein a thickness of at least one of the plurality of arms increases as the at least one of the plurality of arms extends from the edge of the drum to the hub,
wherein the plurality of arms comprise:
a first body arm that is fixed to the drum and extends from the hub toward the edge of the drum,
a second body arm to which the rotation shaft is fixed, the second body arm being spaced apart from the first body arm and extending from the hub toward the edge of the drum, and
a connecting part that connects the first body arm and the second body arm to each other and maintains a state that the first body arm and the second body arm are spaced apart from each other, and
wherein the hub comprises:
a first body hub located at a rotation center of the drum and fixed to the drum, the first body hub defining a first hub hole perforated along the rotation center, wherein the first body arm extends from the first body hub,
a second body hub that is located within the tub and has the rotation shaft fixed thereto, the second body hub defining a second hub hole perforated along the rotation center, wherein the second body arm extends from the second body hub and faces the first body arm, and
a circumferential rib that connects the first body hub and the second body hub to each other.